The JC 100 (Auxiliary JC for manual workers) has concluded a protocal agreement for the years 2017-2018

On 20 October 2017 the social partners of joint committee 100 (= auxiliary JC for manual workers) concluded a protocol agreement for the period 2017-2018. This agreement observes the maximum envelope for negotiation of 1.1% in 2017 and 2018 in accordance with the CBA No. 119.

Below we give you a brief overview of the most important subjects mentioned in this protocol agreement.

Purchasing power

Increase of annual premium

From 1 December 2017 the amount of the annual premium is increased by 20x the hourly base wage to a total amount of 31x the hourly base wage.

The existing conditions are maintained, yet the next adjustments are made:

• The employee must have a seniority of at least 6 months at the time the premium is paid (any work interruption of less than 7 calendar days is not considered as an interruption of seniority).
• The annual premium must not be granted when equivalent actual increases of the wage and/or other benefits, at the same costs as the annual premium (gross + employer social security contribution) in 2017-2018, are granted on company level (with the exception of CBA No. 90 bonuses and automatic wage increases on the basis of a collectively determined wage scale on company level).The amount of the substituted benefits must be verifiable.

Arrangements for companies with no wage indexation

For manual workers of companies without a wage indexation scheme and earning an hourly wage higher than the minimum hourly wage in the sector, the hourly wage is raised by (additional to the annual premium):

• 1.7% on 01.01.2018;
• 1.2% on 01.01.2019.

This increase must not be granted when actual wage increases and/or other benefits were or are granted in 2017 and 2018 respectively on company level at the same costs (gross + employer social security contribution), with the exception of CBA No. 90 bonuses and automatic wage increases in application of a collectively determined wage scale on company level. The amount of the substituted benefits must be verifiable.

Time credit

The right to motivated time credit is extended to

• max. 24 months for manual workers with less than 8 years of seniority;
• max. 36 months for manual workers with more than 8 years of seniority.

For the period of 01.01.2017 to 31.12.2018 the entry age for an end-of-career job (1/5 and 1/2) with payment is maintained at 55 years. The employees who benefit this scheme are not included in the 5% threshold of simultaneous absences.

A sector agreement with regard to the Flemish incentive bonuses will be concluded for the period 01.01.2018 to 31.12.2019.

System of unemployment with employer supplement (SWT)

• SWT arduous occupations: from 58 years (2017) or 59 years (2018), if professional career of 33 years of which at least 20 years in night work or arduous occupation and provided an accession act is concluded and the employee has 5 years of seniority in the company (CBA No. 120 and 121);
• SWT from 58 years (2017) or 59 years (2018) for long careers of 40 years provided that an accession act is concluded employee has 5 years of seniority in the company (CBA No. 124 and 125).

Training and education

Within the context of the interprofessional objectives for training (law on feasible and manageable work), the existing CBAs 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 on training and financing of the education fund are extended for the period 2017-2018. For the companies this means the following:

• companies < 50 employees:

• Companies > 50 employees: average 3 training days/FTE

Overtime hours

The social partners have raised the internal working time limit that must be observed as well as the number of overtime hours for which the employee is not obliged to take up time off in lieu.

From 01.01.2018 to 31.12.2019 the internal working time limit that must be observed amounts to 156 hours and the number of overtime hours for which the employee must not take up time off in lieu is brought at 143 hours.

This protocol agreement will only be effective after publication of the final agreement on the website of the FPS Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue. We will keep you informed.

Source: 2017-2018 Protocol Agreement of 20 October 2017 (JC 100.00)

Author: Leen Lafourt

22/01/2018